Intelligible information forming or suggesting device

ABSTRACT

A game device having four adjacently positioned coplanar modified elliptical rotors with indicia imprinted around the edges of each rotor. Linked crank means are provided for simultaneously rotating the rotors in a manner resulting in relative rolling. In any stationary position, the edgewise proximate indicia on adjacent rotors are combined to suggest intelligible information and/or to arouse related associated mental ideas, thoughts and memories.

United States Patent.

I Filed Milton S. Hopkins Newhnll, Calif.

Apr. 30, 1970 Patented Dec. 21, 1971 Assignees Walter Milton Hopkins;

Eileen Cnrloclr Hopkins; Lorin Roy Glllogly; Gwendolyn Maybeth Glllogly, pert interest to each Inventor Appl. No.

INTELLIGIBLE INFORMATION FORMING OR 'SUGGESIING DEVICE 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

U.S.Cl 273/161, I 35/3,35/l3,35/74 Int. Cl. A6319/00 Field oiSenrch 273/161; 35/13, 3, 74; 235/74 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,477,441 7/1949 Cole 35/13 2,140,424 12/1938 Friedman 35/3 1,291,198 1/1919 Shore 273/161 1,418,686 6/1922 Swallow. 273/161 2,490,783 12/1949 Cullen 35/13 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Attorneys-Clarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT: A game device having four adjacently positioned coplanar modified elliptical rotors with indicia imprinted around the edges of each rotor. Linked crank means are provided for simultaneously rotating the rotors in a manner resulting in relative rolling, In any stationary position, the edgewise proximate indicia on adjacent rotors are combined to suggest intelligible information and/or to arouse related associated mental ideas, thoughts and memories.

PATENTEDBEBZIM 3,628,795

sum 1 0i 2 Mil/on .S. Hopkins Mi /away 15% PATENIEUumm $628,795

sum 2 OF 2 I 26 Milton 5. Hopkins 26 [NT/15x77 R 7 BY Wm INTELLIGIBLE INFORMATION FORMING OR SUGGESTING DEVICE The present invention relates to game devices and more particularly to a game for forming or suggesting words.

The Ouija Board is a game that has been a perennial favorite. That game includes a board having letters and other indicia thereon. An indicator is moved across the board while the player observes his move until such time as the player wishes to stop moving the indicator. The indicator will then indicate a particular letter which is to form part of a word or sentence or phrase. After completing the selection process, a sentence or phrase is completed which in many instances has particular significance to the player. If a meaningless sentence or phrase is formed, the player continues on until something intelligible is formed.

The present invention is an adaptation of the Ouija Board principle using a mechanism resembling the modified elliptical rotor assembly of a rotary engine as set forth in US. Pat. No. 2,097,881 issued Nov. 2, I937. Basically this rotary engine and its game equivalent includes four coplanar and adjacently positioned modified elliptical members or other geometrical forms which undergo relative rolling motion in opposite directions along adjacent edges.

In the present invention, modified elliptical rotors or wheels are used with words or indicia imprinted around the edges of the rotors. Means are provided for rotating the rotors simultaneously until the player wishes to take a reading. Then, the words or indicia in adjacent proximity are read from the adjacent rotors to suggest an idea, thought, word, or a sentence or' phrase which may have significance to the player. Inasmuch as the adjacent edges of the rotors undergo rolling motion, as they move slowly past each other in opposite directions, an almost infinite number of word constructions can be made to suggest significant items with mental associations of thoughts and memories. As the subconscious mind tends to repress all undesirable ideas, only pleasurable mental associations rise to consciousness, leaving the mind aglow with happy thoughts. Mental recognition of desired ideas is accompanied by an infinitesimal muscular tension, stopping movement of the device. A player considers a touching letter or letters, or the lightening-flash thought triggered by a combination of visible letters.

The mechanism of the present invention forms an interesting game which provides fascination for the player and may also serve as an instructive aid for illustrating the principles of planetative and rolling motion to a student.

Two people may operate the device together; one person's finger on the control and anothers finger lightly touching the first person s fingernail.

These together with-other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. I is a top plan view of the present game device.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along a plane passing through section .line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view illustrating the components of the present game.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate two different positions assumed by the playing rotors of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4 a round baseplate I0 is preferably fabricated from clear plastic and includes four upwardly extending projections l2, l4, l6 and 18 which are suitably attached to the upper surface of the baseplate and are arranged in a pattern defining the corners of a square. These projections serve as axial mounts for modified elliptically shaped rotors 20, 22, 24 and 26 respectively. An actuator plate 36 is provided and has downward projections positioned exactly as that of baseplate 10. In order to centrally mount each rotor to one of the projections, central apertures are formed in the rotors and are respectively indicated by 28, 30, 32 and 34. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the rotors are disposed in coplanar adjacent relation and are adapted to execute sliding motion with respect to the upper surface of baseplate 10. The design may be inverted so that the rotors have central projections to fit receptacles in baseplate 10 while the upper surface of the rotors have offset projections fitting receptacles in actuator plate 36.

As shown in the figures, the modified elliptical rotors are rotated by means discussed hereinafter in a manner effecting relative rolling of each rotor with respect to an adjacent rotor. Although the figures indicate the confronting adjacent edges of the rotors touch each other, the rotors may be manufactured with a tolerance resulting in a near touching of the edges.

As indicated in FIG. 4, the circular actuator plate 36 is positioned in overlying relation with respect to the baseplate l0 and in contacting juxtaposition with the upper surfaces of the rotors. Actuator plate 36 serves as a rotatable connecting plate for causing simultaneous relative rolling motion of the rotors. It is in effect, an operational combination of five cranks, one for each rotor, and a central crank that imparts motion to the actuator plate resulting in circular movement of each rotors planetary pivot, around its central rotor pivot, causing all rotors to move simultaneously in unison with each other; and adjacent rotor edges move past each other in opposite directions. In order to achieve this end, actuator plate 36 includes downwardly extending projections 38, 40, 42 and 44 which engage corresponding apertures ofi'set from the central mounting apertures. More particularly, projection 38 engages aperture 46 in rotor 20 to form a crank connection, aperture 46 being disposed along the major axis of the modified elliptical rotor 20. Likewise, projection 40 engages aperture 48 lying along the minor axis of the modified elliptical rotor 22. The third projection 42 is received within an aperture 50 lying along the major axis of rotor 24. The last projection 44 extends through an aperture 52 lying along the minor axis of rotor 26. When rotatable connecting plate actuator 36, which mounts the crank projections 38, 40, 42 and 44, is rotated, the modified elliptical rotors are forced to rotate about their central mounting and execute relative rolling motion along the rotor edges. v

A projection 54 extends upwardly from the rotatable connecting actuator plate 36 and serves as a handle or knob. When this knob is rotatably driven, the rotatable connecting actuator plate 36 exhibits planetative motion which is transmitted to the rotors that undergo relative rolling motion.

A circular cover plate 56 is positioned over the rotatable connecting actuator plate 36 and marginally overlies baseplate 10 to which it is connected. Connection of the cover plate and baseplates is brought about by forming apertures 58 in the cover plate which lie in vertical alignment with apertures 60 formed in the baseplate l0. Spacers 62 are positioned in alignment with the corresponding apertures 58 and 60 thereby serving to retain the cover plate and baseplates at a fixed distance. Suitable fasteners such as rivets 64, screws or the like extend through the aligned apertures 58 and 60 and secure the game device together. An opening 57 is centrally formed in cover plate 56 and serves to allow the passage of knob 54 therethrough. With the presence of the opening 57, an individual can manually rotate the handle 54 thereby causing the rotatable connecting actuator plate 36 to undergo planetative motion which in turn causes the relative rolling motion of the rotors.

As indicated in FIG. 1, letters, characters, symbols, etc. 66 are formed around the marginal edge of each rotor. In any given position of the rotors, adjacent rotor edges will come together at a point of greatest proximity. A typical manner of playing the game is by reading the letters from the rotors at the point of greatest proximity and forming a sequential set of these letters, that stimulate mental associations of thoughts and memories. The sequential letter set may suggest a meaningful word or code that can be translated by a suitable code translation sheet (not shown). With the disposition of rotors as shown in FIG. 1, the rotors may be read in an order determined by the rotor numbers. For example, rotor No. 3 is indicated by reference numeral 68. Thus, reading the adjacent letters between rotors 1-4 as shown in FIG. 1, one would read 0, C, D, E, I, A, B, A". Now, by utilizing a code sheet, the sequential set of letters may be transposed to a meaningful message. Of course, actual words may be substituted for the letters imprinted on the rotors. In a typical embodiment of the invention the indicia is imprinted on a modified elliptically shaped card which is suitably pasted to the upper surface of an associated plastic rotor.

Referring to FIG. 5 the rotors have been rotated until a symmetrical pattern is formed as indicated by reference numeral 70. Another typical position of the rotors is illustrated in FIG.

By manually rotating knob 54 an almost infinite number of combinations and permutations of letters can be established. Upon proper code translation, one can enjoy endless enjoyment and recreation.

An alternate manner of playing with the present device is to tilt and rotate it so that gravity will act upon the offset actuator plate 36 thereby causing the rotors to move without turning the handle 54. With the alternate playing mode, it would be possible to seal the components in a closed package and exclude a handle.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a baseplate, a plurality of rotor members, means centrally rotatably mounting each rotor member to the baseplate, crank means connected to the rotor members, rotatable connecting means linking the crank means for causing simultaneous relative rotary motion of adjacent rotor members, each rotor member being of a modified elliptical shape and having an aperture formed in the center thereof, a projection connected to the baseplate and extending through the aperture to effect said central mounting, indicia imprinted along the edges of said rotor members whereby intelligible information is formed or suggested by combining the indicia appearing in greatest proximity between adjacent rotor members, or by any combination of visible indicia that may suggest a thought or idea with desired mental associations, the rotatable connecting means comprising a rotatable plate positioned in juxtaposition with the rotor members, each rotor member having a second aperture offset from the center aperture thereof and positioned on an axis of the rotor member, the crank means including projections connected to the rotatable plate which freely extend through the second apertures, and actuating means connected to the rotatable plate for enabling its planetative motion resulting in simultaneous relative rolling motion of the rotor members.

2. The game device of claim 1 together with a cover plate positioned in spaced secured relation to the baseplate for retaining the rotor members and the rotatable plate in juxtaposition, and wherein the actuating means is a handle attached to the rotatable plate for causing its motion, the handle extending through an opening formed in the cover plate to make the handle accessible for manual turning.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the cover and baseplates are circular and have identical dimensions, the plates being disposed in spaced overlying aligned relation.

4. A game device comprising a baseplate, a plurality of rotor members, means centrally rotatably mounting each rotor member to the baseplate, crank means connected to the rotor members, rotatable connecting means linking the crank means for causing simultaneous relative rotary motion of adjacent rotor members, each rotor member being of a modified elliptical shape and having an aperture formed in the center thereof, a projection connected to the baseplate and extending through the aperture to effect said central mounting, indicia imprinted along the edges of said rotor members whereby intelligible information is formed or suggested by combining the indicia appearing in greatest proximity between adjacent rotor members, or by any combination of visible indicia that may suggest a thought or idea with desired mental associations, the rotatable connecting means comprises a rotatable plate positioned in juxtaposition with the rotor members, each rotor member having a second aperture offset from the center aperture positioned on an axis of the rotor, wherein the crank means include projections connected to the rotatable plate which freely extend through the second apertures whereby turning of the device in a predetermined plane causes gravity to act on the rotatable plate resulting in rolling motion of the rotor members. 

1. In combination, a baseplate, a plurality of rotor members, means centrally rotatably mounting each rotor member to the baseplate, crank means connected to the rotor members, rotatable connecting means linking the crank means for causing simultaneous relative rotary motion of adjacent rotor members, each rotor member being of a modified elliptical shape and having an aperture formed in the center thereof, a projection connected to the baseplate and extending through the aperture to effect said central mounting, indicia imprinted along the edges of said rotor members whereby intelligible information is formed or suggested by combining the indicia appearing in greatest proximity between adjacent rotor members, or by any combination of visible indicia that may suggest a thought or idea with desired mental associations, the rotatable connecting means comprising a rotatable plate positioned in juxtaposition with the rotor members, each rotor member having a second aperture offset from the center aperture thereof and positioned on an axis of the rotor member, the crank means including projections connected to the rotatable plate which freely extend through the second apertures, and actuating means connected to the rotatable plate for enabling its planetative motion resulting in simultaneous relative rolling motion of the rotor members.
 2. The game device of claim 1 together with a cover plate positioned in spaced secured relation to the baseplate for retaining the rotor members and the rotatable plate in juxtaposition, and wherein the actuating means is a handle attached to the rotatable plate for causing its motion, the handle extending through an opening formed in the cover plate to make the handle accessible for manual turning.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein the cover and baseplates are circular and have identical dimensions, the plates being disposed in spaced overlying aligned relation.
 4. A game device comprising a baseplate, a plurality of rotor members, means centrally rotatably mounting each rotor member to the baseplate, crank means connected to the rotor members, rotatable connecting means linking the crank means for causing simultaneous relative rotary motion of adjacent rotor members, each rotor member being of a modified elliptical shape and having an aperture formed in the center thereof, a projection connected to the baseplate and extending through the aperture to effect said central mounting, indicia imprinted along the edges of said rotor members whereby intelligible information is formed or suggested by combining the indicia appearing in greatest proximity between adjacent rotor members, or by any combination of visible indicia that may suggest a thought or idea with desired mental associations, the rotatable connecting means comprises a rotatable plate positioned in juxtaposition with the rotor members, each rotor member having a second aperture offset from the center aperture positioned on an axis of the rotor, wherein the crank means include projections connected to the rotatable plate which freely extend through the second apertures whereby turning of the device in a predetermined plane causes gravity to act on the rotatable plate resulting in rolling motion of the rotor members. 